The Grand Duchy of Barst is a titanic, efficient nation, renowned for its compulsory military service, irreverence towards religion, and restrictive gun laws. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 15.711 billion Barstians are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.

The medium-sized, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Healthcare. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 28.3%.

The very strong Barstian economy, worth 779 trillion florins a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Woodchip Exports industry, with major contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Cheese Exports, and Pizza Delivery. Average income is 49,583 florins, with the richest citizens earning 8.9 times as much as the poorest.

The tenet of free speech is held dear. Crime, especially youth-related, is well under control, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Barst's national animal is the wolf.

Barst is ranked 237,286^th in the world and 2^nd in Aerospace Frontier for Most Rebellious Youth, scoring -8 on the Stark-Dean Displacement Index.